White Clawed Crayfish

Legislation

The white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) is protected under Appendix III of the Bern Convention, Annexes II and V of the EC Habitats Directive and is classed as Globally Threatened by IUCN/WCMC. It is also protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) which prohibits the taking of any native crayfish for any purpose except under licence. The Import of Live Fish Act also protects the white-clawed crayfish through the Prohibition of Keeping Live Fish (Crayfish) Order 1996. (URL 1)

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan lists the white-clawed crayfish as a priority species and an action plan has been prepared to encourage measures for its survival. The populations in Britain represent the greatest concentration of the species in Europe (Holdich, 2003).

Survey

The suitability of a habitat can be assessed at any time of year, although the actual survey season is quite restricted and short. Hand searching during the day and/or torch survey at night when water flow rates are low, are the most commonly used techniques, although crayfish trapping is also effective.